This is an interview post of a few real working moms. Learn their stories, experiences, and many other things if you want to find yourself as one of the best working moms.
If you are a mom who has many questions to ask real working moms to know about their issues, challenges they face, how they balance both their career and family life, and many other things, then this post is right for you. In this post, I’ve put together all the questions that you may ask and their answers that are replied to by a few real working moms. The working moms who participated in the interviews are Julie (Author of Fab Working Mom Life), Kami, Stephanie Gosnell (author of the Rockin the Mommin), and Sharon Rose Atanas.
As modern workforces continue to evolve, more and more of us are finding ourselves in the unique position of managing both a career and motherhood.
As working moms, we face unique challenges as we out best to balance our responsibilities at work and at home. It’s difficult to balance taking on, but many working moms are doing it successfully. In the interviews, I’ve tried to find out the issues and challenges such working moms face and how they are overcoming them. By hearing their stories and experiences, you can learn many things and take yourself to the next level as a working mom.
#1. What is the meaning of working mom?
A working mom is a woman who balances raising children concurrently with performing work duties. Whether you call her a working mom or a working mother, the meaning is the same. Working mothers are a diverse group, including stay-at-home moms who work part-time, full-time, or self-employed and those who have a career outside the home. Whatever their individual circumstances, all working moms face the unique challenges of managing both responsibilities of motherhood and a career.
In reality, women are working moms for a number of reasons; some by choice, others not. Perhaps for one woman, they love their work, and working outside of the home, while another may be a single mother- like myself- whose household relies on her sole income.
Read more: 11 Best Business Ideas For Working Moms
#2. What do working moms struggle with the most?
Several working moms have been interviewed and answered this question. You can read the answers below.
Answered by Julie:
Time management and energy management are huge struggles for working moms. These two go hand in hand as you can’t manage your time without managing your energy. Being able to keep up with all the tasks and everything on our plates without collapsing from exhaustion is a struggle.
Answered by Kami:
A working mom struggles with many things. Below are some of them.
• Childcare
Moms are not able to go to work without childcare or schools. Childcare is even more essential for single working moms who don’t have the additional income, or extra pair of hands, to support the family.
Childcare can be very expensive.
In the United States, families with a preschool-aged child (0-5 years old) spent on average 7.7% of their income on childcare. In some states, this figure can be over 15% of an average family’s monthly income, or around $865 a month.
• More Childcare Issues
The potential nightmare called childcare is not limited to costly monthly fees. The reality is that good, reliable childcare is not always available when there are work commitments.
• Fatigue
Motherhood is all about devotion and sacrifice- and sometimes what we sacrifice is enough sleep! For your “typical” working mother the work day doesn’t start at 9 a.m., nor does it end at 5 p.m.; there’s the childcare that takes place before and after working hours, and this compound of two jobs can mean a compounded amount of fatigue.
Unfortunately, this parental fatigue can lead to burnout which can be a precursor for a mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression.
• Missing key experiences in child’s life
A very real woe of working mothers is the fact that your average 9-5 work day means that during the week you are only with your children for approximately eight waking hours a day, and let’s admit it- just how many of those eight hours are spent having quality bonding time when you’re pooped after a long work day?
Work commitments can also eat into the time after working hours that could be spent enjoying quality time with your children.
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
Guilt and Judgement. As moms, we are constantly judged and shamed for our choices and actions. If you stay home you are lazy, if you work outside the home you’re letting someone else raise your kids. No matter what you do someone will tell you it’s wrong so the best thing to do is not care what others think!
#3. Is it ok to be a working mother
Sharon, Kami, and Stephanie Gosnell answered this question. You can read the answers below.
Answered by Sharon Rose Atanas:
For me, being a mother is the most irreplaceable job in the whole world whether it be a working mom or not; it is a duty, a responsibility, and a commitment. When you say working mom, it’s something not all mothers wanted. Why? Because as a mother, the only thought that comes into my mind is my children, that I will give all my best for them and I will always stay on their side no matter what…that’s my idea before I became an ofw.. because I myself have experienced being away from my mother at an early age since she also works as an ofw in the Middle East before.. for the same reasons POVERTY …but when a certain situation rises and you are in a point where you have no choice anymore but to survive…you will come to a decision that no matter how you want things to be it won’t apply anymore, it’s so frustrating, but at the same time, you have to look at the other side of the fence and remind yourself this is what it is..you have to do it courageously for the sake of the children… In my experience, everything falls at the right time because the kids are all grown up when we left them..but regardless of what the situation is, the only most important thing is we have to endure it for the future. Being a working mom is okay; it takes so much responsibility and commitment being a mother…Because you have your work and at the same time, you have to make it up for your kids too. Meaning double time as a working mom and as a mother. Double time with your commitment to your work and responsibilities.
Answered by Kami:
As with anything, there are pros and cons to working outside of the home as a mother. One cannot say that it is better than being a stay-at-home mother because it all depends on an individual’s unique circumstances.
What is evident is that socially, there has undoubtedly been a shift in the attitude towards working mothers and the role of mothers- and fathers- in the home. What was once seen as the exception has now become typical.
Dare we wonder what the next fifty years will look like?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
Yes, yes, yes!!! It’s ok to be a working mom and it’s ok to be a stay-at-home mom. The key word is MOM! As long as you are being a real mom to your kids then they will be happy whether you are working or staying at home.
#4. How does a working mother affect a child?
Julie, Kami, and Stephanie Gosnell have been interviewed for this question. Their answers are below.
Answered by Julie:
A working mother shows their children that you can be many things in life, and one thing does not define you. You can pursue your goals and career aspirations while raising a family. You can follow your passions and have kids. It’s a great lesson to show as a role model for your children.
Answered by Kami:
Arguably, since the beginning of mankind, mothers predominantly stayed at home to rear their children and tend to the household. In other words, working outside of the household was not a “thing”; it was not done. This traditional approach is still prevalent in many cultures today.
Wouldn’t the fact that stay-at-home moms have been the norm for millennia mean that this model is probably biologically the most beneficial to a child’s well-being?
Research has found that this is not necessarily the case, but a lot depends on the age of the child and the quality of childcare.
For infants under age one, scientists widely agree that it’s extremely beneficial for mothers to be their child’s primary caregiver. The importance of this primary caregiver role cannot be underestimated.
According to Carolyn J. Heinrich’s “Parents Employment and Children’s Wellbeing”, neurological research points to how life-long cognitive development is affected by an infant’s environment. For infants, establishing a close, reliable, and nurturing bond with their primary caregiver is essential for efficient neural development.
For a working mother who is gone during the day for extensive periods of time, this may negatively affect feelings of security for their infant which could affect the child long-term.
Past infancy and toddlerhood, the news gets better for our working mothers! Children of working mothers have been found to have higher academic achievement scores, and in the case of girls- more assertiveness and independence than those that come from stay-at-home mother households. Though boys of working mothers have higher academic achievement levels, they are, unfortunately, more likely to exhibit some acting-out behavior at school than sons of stay-at-home mothers.
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
It shows them the value of hard work. Allows them to explore the world independently and to use their imagination. It helps to prepare them for the real world but also helps them to value this time as a child. Looking back, I didn’t listen to what my parents said about waiting to grow up and I’m sure my kids won’t either but man they were right!
#5. Are kids of working moms successful?
Answered by Sharon:
Success is a big word. Most of us see it as something we have to see every day. I mean, they base it on what you have achieved and what you have. As a working mom, I see success as a general outcome of what I have done, the product of all my decisions. As a mom, I believe that even if my children are still in the process of building their future at the moment. I can already see them as successful because I have raised them up in the way I wanted them to be. So for me, success shouldn’t just be based on what you see materially in each kid, but I am more into what they will become and the process of what and how they deal future as individuals. The right time I can say if my children are successful is when I see them as individuals who are not a problem to the society because at least I can also congratulate myself as a working mom that I have raised them up as good people even if I’m not on their side every day.
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
I think having a mom that works gives children a different perspective but I do not think it makes them any more or less successful. My mom stayed home with me until I started school then she was a volunteer there. Once I let her know I didn’t love that (what kid does lol), she got a part-time job at a décor store. I inherited my work ethic from my father who stayed with the company that hired him out of college his entire career. Started as an accountant and worked his way up to President of the company. When I interned there, I was blown away by the respect all his employees had for him. I pray that my children have a moment like I did when I couldn’t have been prouder to be my father’s daughter.
#6. What are the pros of the working mother?
Answered by Kami:
• Working moms may be happier
I can’t lie- in the morning, as I will myself roll out of bed to get ready for work, I often wistfully think about how nice it would be to stay home and take care of my daughter instead of trudging to my full-time teaching job. I love my job and interacting with my students and colleagues, but I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on so much time and experience with my daughter, who at 4-years-old, is fast approaching school age. At her young age, I believe I would be happier as a stay-at-home mom.
Do other mothers agree? Well, not exactly! A study by the American Psychology Association found that the health and well-being of mothers who worked part-time and full-time during their child’s infancy and preschool years were reported to be better than mothers who were self-declared stay-at-home mothers.
Why would this be true? Doesn’t everybody want to stay home with their children? For those working mothers that reported overall happiness, this is attributed to the fact that
Mothers that worked part-time showed the greatest amount of health and life satisfaction compared to their full-time workers and stay-at-home peers. They report less depressive symptoms and more overall happiness than stay-at-home mothers, but their happiness is reportedly on par with that of mothers that work full-time. Mothers that worked part-time were just as involved in their child’s school as stay-at-home mothers, and actually provided more learning opportunities for their children than both stay-at-home mothers and those that work full-time.
• Working mothers directly contribute income to the household
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median weekly earnings for women in 2022 was $971 a week, or $46,608 a year. In a two-parent household, these earnings essentially double the average income for that household.
A higher household income means more financial stability for a family, which can equate to better housing and schooling for children.
• Increased interaction with others
One very real complaint of stay-at-home moms is that being able to interact with others regularly in a meaningful way is likely harder for them than it is for a working mother.
Speaking of my own experience, the most difficult part of my own maternity leave was that I wasn’t getting regular contact with the outside world, which made me feel very isolated and vulnerable and exacerbated feelings of postpartum depression.
Studies have now shown that for even the healthiest among us, social isolation can “disintegrate” feelings of well-being.
Stay-at-home mothers aren’t necessarily doomed to a life of mental and emotional disintegration. This information just shows us that for a stay-at-home mom, making the effort to form relationships outside of the home is probably beneficial.
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
For me, it’s important to show my children the value of hard work and doing something they love. I truly love what I do and hope that they find something as fulfilling. I also want them to see two working parents because as a mom of boys, I want them to know working is part of life as is supporting a family. Another pro for me is having something to focus on that is not directly related to motherhood. And it involved my passions, shopping, and fashion, so that makes me happy 😊
#7. Do children suffer when both parents work?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
Sometimes yes and sometimes no, but I feel it has more to do with the parents themselves versus working or not. As a working mom, I made a commitment to myself to spend quality time with my kids. That means no phone between the hours of 6 and 8 pm at night. It means I will help with homework, we will all make dinner, hang out, read two stories then go to bed. I feel it’s not necessarily the amount of time you spend with your children but more what you do with that time.
#8. Is being a working mom hard?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
Being a mom is hard, period! I have been both a stay-at-home mom and a working mom and can confirm that is true! Each comes with its only struggles and guilt. As a working mom, it’s hard to give 100% to every area of your life simultaneously. As a stay-at-home mom, it’s hard to focus on yourself while knowing you are solely responsible for taking care of your family. When I was working in an office, I do feel like it was harder mainly because of the additional coordination I had to do. When you move into more hands on jobs I do feel like it’s harder as the flexibility that motherhood requires becomes very difficult.
#9. Which is harder stay-at-home mom or working mom?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
For me, it was harder to be a stay-at-home mom because I missed the adult connection but I also missed the responsibility that comes with my job. I missed making decisions other than what we were going to have for dinner. The mental stimulation was a huge piece of the difference for me so I quickly realized that I needed at least a part-time job.
#10. Why working moms are so tired?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
The list is endless! We go from our day job to our other job (momming) almost immediately so no real time to decompress. And the concept of sleep when the baby sleeps only works if your baby actually sleeps. So between keeping the kids alive, the house clean, the family fed, and her career, moms do it all which is exhausting!!!!
#11. Why working mothers are better?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
All mothers are working mothers, some work inside the home and some work outside the home. I believe we have to get past the idea that one mom is ‘better’ than another because it forces us to compare ourselves which I am very against. Moms are like snowflakes, no two are the same because no two families are the same.
#12. What jobs are the best for working moms?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
The best type of companies for moms to work for are those that value family and understand that we work to live, not live to work. Flexibility is key when you’re a mom as many things come up that you must deal with unexpectedly. Regard professions, whatever they are passionate about! Being a mom doesn’t mean that you are only good at certain things now. We were women before we became moms and we are still women now as moms. My parents taught me from an early age that I could be anything I wanted to be if I was willing to put in the work. There are many times throughout history when people tried to tell women that we couldn’t do one job or another and we have continued to prove them wrong. I feel like Steve Jobs said it best, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
#13. What job has the most flexible hours for working moms?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
I believe remote work provides the most flexibility for moms as they don’t necessarily have to take time off when kiddos are sick and they are able to work around schedules well. Creative jobs are good for moms as it provides an outlet and normally is project based so they can work on the project when is convenient for them like at 2 am when the baby decides is playtime. Blogging, social media management, and customer service are all areas where I would also think flexibility would be provided.
#14. How many hours do most moms work?
Answered by Stephanie Gosnell:
If possible, I would think most moms would prefer to work part-time so they would still be able to handle all the kids’ stuff. In today’s world that’s not always an option and full-time might be the only possibility. I set my max hours each week at 30 hours so that I can still pick my children up, take them to sports, doctors, or whatever pops up and not worry about work.
